COLLEAGUES of a North Wales estate agent killed in an Alpine climbing tragedy raised more than £2,000 in his memory.

Richard Elliott, 39, from Connah's Quay, died after he was stranded alone in a blizzard in Italy's Argentera Valley in November.

Staff at Liverpool-based estate agents City Residential, where Mr Elliott was a branch manager, collected £2,612 for Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue team after his family asked for donations to the charity.

Former work colleagues donned costumes for a three-and-a-half mile Santa Dash around Liverpool city centre, and organised other fundraising activities.

Mr Elliott helped set up and run City Residential for three years and co-workers said he was deeply missed.

City Residential's managing director Alan Bevan said: "Richard would be proud we have raised so much money for a charity so close to his heart.

"It's fantastic to get the chance to meet the team, who are all volunteers who risk their lives to rescue people."

Staff travelled to North Wales at the weekend to hand over the cash.

Chris Lloyd, of Ogwen Valley Rescue Team, said: "The team has to raise £30,000 every year and is heavily reliant on charitable donations.

"We are delighted City Residential has chosen our charity as a tribute to their colleague, especially when there are so many other charities in need of help."

The team is one of the busiest in the country with up 60 rescues a year in northern Snowdonia. The 50 volunteers provide an emergency service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Mr Elliott was found after his climbing partner Paul Field, 39, from Surrey, who suffered hypothermia, raised the alarm.

The men had been in the Argentera Valley when they were separated in a snow storm and forced to spend the night in the open.

Mr Field managed to reach a mountain hut, where he used an emergency phone to contact relatives in the UK. They called the Foreign Office and alerted police.